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National Infant Immunization Week is Next Week

The week of April 26 through May 3 is National Infant Immunization Week. Judi Van Hulzen, with Marion County Public Health, says immunizations are the best way to prevent diseases such as measles, diptheria, tetanus and pertussis – or whooping cough. Van Hulzen says last year, the state began to require DTaP for 7th graders. She says in 2012, there were nearly 2000 cases of whooping cough in Iowa. She says the effectiveness of the vaccine has waned, so boosters are needed. Van Hulzen adds that the most common side effects from vaccines are redness and swelling at the injection site and perhaps a slight rash or allergic reaction.